Acleris logiana - new to VC30, Bedfordshire

This moth was amongst others passed to David Manning for id last week. He dissected it and it is the first county record of Acleris logiana which feeds on Birch. Caught at Flitwick Moor on 5th July 2009

Moths from National Moth Nights 2009

The following moths were all trapped on either 18th or 19th September 2009 at Maulden Wood, Flitwick Moor or at home in Lower Stondon. All photos by Melissa Banthorpe

Pink-barred Sallow Maulden Wood 19/09/09

The Sallow (two colour forms) Maulden Wood 19/09/09

Orange Sallow Lower Stondon 19/09/09

Centre-barred Sallow Maulden Wood 18/09/09

Blood-vein Flitwick Moor 19/09/09

Autumnal Rustic Lower Stondon 19/09/09

Brindled Green Maulden Wood 18/09/09

Red-green Carpet Maulden Wood 18/09/09


Brown-spot Pinion Lower Stondon 18/09/09

Rosy Rustic Lower Stondon 18/09/09


Large Ranunculus Lower Stondon 19/09/09

Deep-brown Dart Lower Stondon 18/09/09

Small Wainscot Maulden Wood 18/09/09

The Brick Maulden Wood 19/09/09

Flitwick Moor moths - 19th September 2009

Photos of some of moths caught at Flitwick Moor on the very enjoyable moth trapping night run by Andy & Melissa Banthorpe. Photos by Martin Green.

Ruby Tiger

Black Rustic

Red-green CarpetBrindled GreenEngrailed

Moths and a bug

From The Lodge last week, a Large Thorn, a Feathered Gothic and the heathland specialist Rhopalus parumpunctatus, a new species for the site.

Migrant Hawker - MVCP

This Migrant Hawker was in the "stream" that is at the back of the MVCP Sensory Garden, near the visitor's centre this afternoon. Photo by Martin Green.

Butterflies at Pegsdon Hills

Chalkhill blue, clouded yellow and speckled wood butterflies plus a dark bush cricket. All taken at Pegsdon Hills this Saturday (Helen Michell took the photos of the chalkhill blue).

Dragonflies and a Wasp Spider

Andy and I took advantage of the weather and made a brief afternoon visit to Duck End NR, Maulden, recording amongst other things Common Darter, Ruddy Darter and Emerald Damselfly. Then we popped over to Stratton Park Balancing Lake near Biggleswade where we were extremely surprised to find a Wasp Spider. All photographs by Melissa Banthorpe.

Common Darter DENR

Ruddy Darter DENR

Emerald Damselfly DENR

Wasp Spider, Argiope bruennichi, at Stratton Park Balancing Lake Biggleswade

Clouded Yellow

There were four Clouded Yellow at Ledburn Road Sandpit opposite Tiddenfoot, Leighton Buzzard this afternoon - all very active !

Garden Moths - Stewartby Lake

Martin Palmer set up his moth trap in my parent's garden near Stewartby Lake yesterday evening. We got a total of 25 species of macro moths and 9 different micros. Here are a few photos of the moths...

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Swallow ProminentMicro moth Number 1305

Silver-washed Fritillary

A somewhat worn Silver-washed Fritillary at Chicksands Wood today - this is the only shot I managed to get before it was gone.

Not just black and white

A striking moth of oak woods at this time of year is the Black Arches, Lymantria monacha. This was one of 32 that came to an actinic trap in Potton Wood last night. When disturbed they have a defensive posture that seems to involve arching the body and showing a flash of red along the abdomen, presumably to warn off any inquisitive birds.

Half a dragonfly?

I came across this bizarre sight by one of the ponds at The Lodge last week. It took me a few seconds to realise that this darter had been pulled into a hole by something (a wasp?). As you can see by the second 'action' shot, he wasn't too happy about it!

Wall Brown

Still hanging on in the brick pits. A second brood male Wall Brown nectaring on Knapweed.

Small Copper, form caeruleopunctata

A (second brood) Small Copper of the form caeruleopunctata found nectaring on Fleabane in the brick pits

Insects photographed 28/07/2009 in the Broom area

I'm more of a birder than anything else, but July is not very productive, so I am posting a few recent photos of dragonflies, etc. I have asked for some help with the identification of the following and offer what I have been told. Any further comments would be very welcome.

Azure Damselfly?

Brown Hawker?

Common Darter (immature male)?

Another similar Common Darter?

Black-tailed Skimmer?